Description

The collaboration is between Sanofi Vietnam and the project “Climate Protection through Sustainable Bioenergy Market in Vietnam” of the Germany agency for international cooperation (GIZ). Specifically, Sanofi Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GIZ to implement the company’s initiative “Rice – new green energy”. While Sanofi Vietnam provides data and ideas, GIZ will provide technical assistance and implementation measures. The initiative aims to shift the use of diesel fuel for the boiler to the use of rice husk. By doing this, it is expected to reduce 2.3 thousand tons of CO2 per year and 40% steam cost. Especially, the project will use 100% biomass energy as rice husk in manufacturing and thus contribute to the sustainability of the economy – society – environment in Vietnam. This is by far the largest project to develop sustainable biomass energy from rice husk in Vietnam initiated by Sanofi Vietnam. It is also one of three initiatives funded by the Planet Mobilization Fund of the Sanofi Cooperation in an effort to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

Besides the climate positivity, implementing this initiative will promote the utilization of the residual rice husk, which amounts to 10 million tons per year, as an alternative energy source in Vietnam. Additionally, the rice husk ash, a combustion by-product, contains a high concentration of silica, which can be used as raw material for industrial production. This is the untapped potential of rice husk in Vietnam.

Sources & further information: “Sanofi và GIZ/BEM kết hợp triển khai dự án ‘Lúa gạo – nguồn năng lượng xanh mới’” at https://thanhnien.vn, “Sanofi Vietnam inks deal to switch to rice husk fuel for boilers from diesel” at https://vietnamnews.vn, and “Lúa gạo – Nguồn năng lượng xanh mới” at https://congthuong.vn, accessed 27 September 2021.